2014 team defense vs. 1976 Canada Cup team defense

[thom]

1976 by a mile-todays players could not hack the physical punishment that players took in that era.Some of the games I watch remind me of basketball its a joke its not even hockey.

 

[Laineux]

1976 by a mile-todays players could not hack the physical punishment that players took in that era.Some of the games I watch remind me of basketball its a joke its not even hockey.

The players today are a lot bigger and stronger than they were 40 years ago.

Though that's by no means the most relevant thing here, the most relevant thing is the speed of the game (not players) and the systems and defencive play that have changed so much that comparing a team from the 70's to today is ridiculous.

 

[thom]

You put the 1976 team vs 2014 team-1976 team would crush the 2014 team.Another example look at habs team in 1977 or 78 and compare it to black hawks-the hab team was bigger on defence and lafleur was better than anyone on black hawks.Bob Gainey would have a field day checking the Hawkes.Dryden was better than crawford no comparison

 

[VMBM]

You put the 1976 team vs 2014 team-1976 team would crush the 2014 team

Depends on what you mean.

If the 1976 team simply time-travelled to the present, they would struggle mightily with the tempo etc. of today's game - at first at least. And I don't think they managed to "crush" many teams in the 1976 CC either. But there's no question that the 1976 squad is a much better team on paper, and if Orr, Potvin, Lafleur and the rest had been born 35 years later (than they were), they would absolutely still be superstars in today's game, and they would be bigger, stronger, better-conditioned than in 1976... Great players are great players, no matter when they are playing.

 

[Scotty B]

In these past (decades) vs present threads it should always be defined if we're talking about level compared to the time or absolute level.

On an absolute scale, there's no question that '14 defence is better in almost any way imaginable. Hockey has come quite a far away as a game.

I’m so sick of this, It's Newer So It Must Be Better ( by default ) crap, especially from whipper-snappers who never saw the guys they’re disparaging play

When Orr arrived on the scene, the old timers, to a man, said this kidz the best we ever saw ...That’s how good Orr was !

If guys at this year’s OG’s are so great, why were guys in their forties like Selanne and Jagr still standing out, way past their prime?

Heck Selanne, this years ( cough, cough ) OG MVP was playing pro in Finland’s first Div in 1988-9...Kinda shoots holes in that B.S. ‘ Newer is always Better’ hypothesis eh ?

IF u asked Jagr who the best skater he ever played with, or against ( let’s leave goalies out of this ) he'd doubtless say Mario Lemieux...

Gordie Howe played till age 51, he played with Gretzky ( who was certainly on a par with Super Mario ) yet when Mr hockey was asked who the best player he ever played with / or against was ...he always answered Orr without a moments hesitation...

1976 Canada Cup TC Roster Blows the 2014 OG TC roster out of the water....Ditto the 1987 CC Roster

....Gretzky and Mario in their prime were WAY better than Crosby...sans doubt. Seriously try to tell Jagr that Crosby today is better than Mario in his prime, he probably laugh in ur face...Now add guys like Dale Hawerchuk, Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque

We don’t have time machines , but if we could take all time greats in their prime and give them modern equipment, those greats from the seventies and eighties would do fine against todays greats.

Would a prime Gretzky score 212 pts today? No. Would a prime Orr win a scoring title? Seriously, I wouldn’t put it past him...cause again...that’s how good Orr was...

#4, Bobby Orr... Simply the best that ever donned skates Baby!!!

Ergo, Bigger and Newer ain’t always better...

 

[thom]

Very well said-Im mean Erik Karlson had 78 pts playing with Ottawa 2012-13.What would a healthy Orr do-Maybe 120 pts in right situation.1976 Canada Cup team would have easily beaten 2014 Olympic team and would also have beaten 1987 Team.

 

[SwedGrit]

I think one important change over the years is that the difference of talent and development between topplayers and "hockeyworkers" have decreased, because the bottomlevel have rised up, that by itself makes the opportunities to shine the old way fewer.

On top of that tactics and teamdefencestructure has also developed.

We can't get the answers black on white, but it would have been a blast to watch a game with so much talent present and so much pride at stake.